Capacitive discharge ignition system with extended duration spark

A capacitive discharge ignition system for an internal combustion engine comprising:

• a storage capacitor and diode in series therewith;
• a converter transformer having primary and secondary windings, the secondary winding thereof connected in series with the storage capacitor and diode;
• an ignition transformer having primary and secondary windings;
• a first triggerable switch S1, the primary winding of the ignition transformer and the storage capacitor being connected in series through the triggerable switch;
• a spark plug connected in series with the secondary winding of the ignition transformer;
• a source of direct current and a second triggerable switch S2 connected in series with the primary of the converter transformer;
• and
• means to control the first and second triggerable switches in synchronism with the engine such that while the first switch is opened, the second switch is closed for a period of time to store energy in the converter transformer and then opened to transfer that energy to the storage capacitor followed by the closing of the first switch to discharge the storage capacitor into the primary of the ignition transformer while the first switch remains closed, the second switch is again closed and then opened to transfer the energy stored in the converter transformer to the ignition transformer primary to prolong the current flow in the secondary winding of the ignition transformer.